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Now Playing - The Movie Review Podcast

Venganza Media, Inc.
Stephen King
Dracula
Frankenstein
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Star Wars
Nosferatu
Hollywood
Dune
Gladiator
Darkman
Horror Genre
Now Playing Podcast
Death Race
Hasbro
Twister
Dungeons & Dragons
Cannibal Holocaust
Eli Roth
Joker: Folie À Deux
Joaquin Phoenix

The hosts of Now Playing Podcast dive deep into every franchise from Bond, DC and Marvel to Mad Max, Andromeda Strain to Wolverine, breaking down each film with sharp insight, behind-the-scenes stories, and a lot of humor. If a movie has a sequel (or three), we’ve probably reviewed it with real research, real opinions, and zero patience for bad movies.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1202Founded19 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film ReviewsFilm InterviewsTV & Film

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Artwork for Now Playing

Latest Episodes

Unclear and Present Danger

John Krasinski (A Quiet Place) walked away from four seasons playing Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on an Amazon Prime series, only to return in the explosive 2026 reunion movie Ghost War. Can the former CIA analyst help his old b... more

Asking questions about character motivation that Marvel never put to Echo

Struggling actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman) hides his destructive ionic powers to land his dream role as Wonder Man in this 2026 Disney+ series.  But can Iron Man 3's Tre... more

Home Sick

It’s a Brand New Day for Tom Holland now that everyone has magically forgotten Peter Parker, and Spider-Man is once again anonymously ridding New York City of criminals like Scorpion and The Hand.  But is the workaholic web-slinger turning... more

Arnie and Justin unveil StubBook, their independent movie-and-TV logging platform. Plus: mahjong mysteries, vintage novelizations, 3D-printing disasters, Marvel trivia with patron Corey, and a heated debate over whether Disney’s “Infinity Vision” is ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Sasha Baron Cohen
Special guest star discussed in intro
Episode: Ironheart Miniseries Review
Dolph Lundgren
Actor who played He-Man in the 1987 film; guest on this episode
Episode: Masters of the Universe (2026) Movie Review
Tom Ross
Patreon supporter and trivia participant
Patreon (Now Playing)
Episode: Intermission #4: Maclunky, Walkie-Talkies, and the Death of Movies
Thomas Dekker
Actor, writer, producer known for John Connor in The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Jesse in Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Actor
Episode: Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) Interview with Thomas Dekker
Sean Zyncheck
Patron supporter and guest trivia participant
Now Playing Patreon community
Episode: Intermission #1 - Fall of the Alamo
Caleb Landry Jones
Actor known for his roles in horror films and dramas.
Independent Film
Episode: Dracula (2025) Movie Review
Christoph Waltz
Academy Award-winning actor known for his roles in Django Unchained and Inglorious Basterds.
Independent Film
Episode: Dracula (2025) Movie Review
Zoe Blue
Actress playing a key love interest in the film.
Independent Film
Episode: Dracula (2025) Movie Review
Larry Drake
Returning as Robert G. Durant
Episode: Darkman II: The Return of Durant Movie Review

Hosts

Arnie Carvalho
Host of Now Playing Podcast; long-running speaker with emphasis on film analysis and industry context.
Stuart
Co-host contributing film reviews, analysis, and discussion dynamics.
Justin
Co-host and producer bringing humor and supportive analysis to episodes.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4.2k ratings
  • And things…

    I used to like this podcast. Been listening for a long time. Maybe I didn’t notice its flaws before or maybe they’ve evolved over time, but the last year or so the podcast has gone downhill for me. The hosts will often cite events in movies that don’t actually happen, making me wonder if they pay attention at all to the movies they watch. They get character and actor names wrong, despite claiming to rewatch previous movies before a new one comes out, and doing research about topics. It’s a lot o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    VladiLocke
    United States14 days ago
  • devil wears prada

    this type of movie is not a comedy its a chick flick

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    leprosydog
    United States19 days ago
  • Thoughtful movie reviews!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ArtTheArt
    2 months ago
  • Too much negativity

    I love me some ranting and I like the other guys on this cast, but Stewart is so negative about everything! He never finds any positive aspects of any film… is he just contrarian to be contrarian?? It’s really off putting and I had to unsubscribe because he just brought it down every time I listened

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    A Poindexter
    United States2 months ago
  • Huge fan

    Have been listening to Now Playing for years, it makes my work day fly by! I love the reviews even when I don’t always agree with some of the opinions, same as the guys in the room, no one voice overpowers the others in each discussion

    Keep up the great work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elbarbarino1
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise deep-dive discussions and chemistry among hosts.
Some critics note inconsistent research and overlong filler phrases.
Long-time fans cite reliable entertainment and consistent episode quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Intermission #5: Backrooms v Supergirl - The Summer Hollywood Didn't See Coming
Q: In Army of Darkness, which one is not one of Ash's three words to say before picking up the Book of the Dead?
Noodle was identified as the word not in the list; Neptune and Nickel were among the guesses, and the actual misremembered entry was Neptune in one line of the discussion.
Intermission #5: Backrooms v Supergirl - The Summer Hollywood Didn't See Coming
Q: Tom Hanks won two Oscars back to back with Forrest Gump and Philadelphia, but which film got him his first Best Actor nomination?
Big was the film that marked his first Best Actor nomination, with later recognition for Forrest Gump and Philadelphia.
Intermission #5: Backrooms v Supergirl - The Summer Hollywood Didn't See Coming
Q: What is the name of Tom Hanks' first movie?
Mazes and Monsters was not the first release; the answer given by the guest was Maligned by the group, but the correct historical first film in that quiz context was Mazes and Monsters, though they discussed his earliest work including stage and TV appearances.
Intermission #4: Maclunky, Walkie-Talkies, and the Death of Movies
Q: Three quotes, tell me which of you said it and name the movie you were reviewing. (first quote) 'if you're going to have a drink with some ghosts, don't you want good-looking ghosts?'
The Shining miniseries (guest or host identification depending on who spoke the line).
Intermission #4: Maclunky, Walkie-Talkies, and the Death of Movies
Q: In the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, Jared Leto plays Skeletor. Who's the other actor to play live action Skeletor back in the 1987 film?
Frank Langella.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Now Playing

What is Now Playing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A panel of movie enthusiasts offers deep-dive reviews across franchises—from Bond and DC to Marvel—blending sharp analysis with behind-the-scenes lore, humor, and extensive research. Episodes emphasize character, storytelling decisions, and industry context, often pairing fast takeaways with long-form discussions. The show stands out for its willingness to weigh evolving continuities, compare cross-franchise entries, and weave in insider anecdotes, making it a reliable source for listeners who want both thoughtful critique and entertaining banter.

Noteworthy is the extended, multi-host dynamic, a steady commitment to film history and franchise ecosystems, and a tone that mixes spirited debate with accessible storytelling. This combination ... more

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How many listeners does Now Playing get?

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What are the audience demographics for Now Playing?

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How many subscribers and views does Now Playing have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Now Playing has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Now Playing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Now Playing:

1. We Hate Movies
2. Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review
3. Halloweenies: A Horror Franchise Podcast
4. Horror Movie Club
5. Hack or Slash - A Horror Movie Review Podcast

How many episodes of Now Playing are there?

Now Playing launched 19 years ago and published 1202 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Now Playing?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Now Playing?

Recent guests on Now Playing include:

1. Sasha Baron Cohen
2. Dolph Lundgren
3. Tom Ross
4. Thomas Dekker
5. Sean Zyncheck
6. Caleb Landry Jones
7. Christoph Waltz
8. Zoe Blue

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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